Marben - Derailed by Richmond Station

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Date visited: October 25, 2013

Time: 5:30 pm

Party Size: 2

Website: http://www.marbenrestaurant.com/

Food consumed:
- John's Burger (braised ribs, branston pickle, aged cheddar) with fries - $18

Pictures of food consumed: (Click on images to enlarge)

Review of Restaurant:

• What did I think of the food and service?

Marben is part of the burger list, #2 to be precise. Remember Carl Heinrich? He used to be the executive chef of Marben, but later opened his own restaurant, Richmond Station. That's why the burger looks so similar to Richmond Station's.

I found the ribs to be dry, very dry. The fries weren't that great. I personally do not like thin cut fries. Richmond Station's burger is a phoenix rising out of the ashes. Carl not only improved on Marben's but he created a monster out of Richmond Station's. Richmond Station is far superior and well worth the train ticket.

Since the blogger at Toronto Life wrote his entry on Marben, it was $17. A year and a half later, the price rose by $1. Save the walk, it's so far from any subway. Catch the train at Richmond.

• How did my sensitive stomach feel?
  

I wasn't a happy camper. I had two burgers on the same day, at Richmond Station and at Marben. I survived both occasions but my inner burger cravings was only satisfied at Richmond.

City of Toronto Inspection Report

(Click on image to enlarge)

Source: http://www.toronto.ca/health/dinesafe/index.htm?show=detail&id=101912

Here are just the SIGNIFICANT AND CRUCIAL infractions:

March 6, 2012 - PASS

1. Operate food premise - fail to equip facility with toilet paper

2. Operator food premise - fail to equip facility with cloth roller towel, paper towels, single service towels or dryer
3. Operate food premise - fail to equip facility with waste receptacle (first)
4. Fail to provide towels in food preparation area (first)
5. Operator fail to ensure cover will prevent contamination or adulteration
6. Operate food premise - mechanical equipment not maintained to provide sufficient chemical solution rinse
7. Fail to provide thermometer in storage compartment (first)

July 3, 2012 - PASS

1. Operate food premise - fail to equip facility with waste receptacle (second)

2. Store utensils in manner not preventing contamination (first)
3. Fail to provide thermometer in storage compartment (second)

November 6, 2012 - PASS

1. Store utensils in manner not preventing contamination (second)

2. Fail to provide thermometer in storage compartment (third)

March 12, 2013 - PASS

1. Fail to provide towels in food preparation area (second)
2. Fail to store food on racks or shelves

3. Fail to provide thermometer in storage compartment (fourth)

August 27, 2013 - CONDITIONAL PASS

1. Operator fail to properly maintain mechanical washer
2. Operator fail to provide required supplies at sinks

August 28, 2013 - PASS

What is going on at this place? This is a rather fancy place and popular place. Some of the infractions are inexcusable. They keep repeating some infractions and never learn. Based on the infractions, they are missing lots of towels, waste bins and thermometers. Someone must be stealing the thermometers. Clearly, food safety was not observed ever since Carl Heinrich moved on. Shame on the new chef and owner.

VERDICT: Don't waste your money or time here, take the Richmond Station and it will be a magical experience. We witnessed a pig being carried through the front doors at Richmond, which was interesting at a Western restaurant.